Himalayan Morning – A trip to Dehradun

Hello, everyone! I hope you all are doing well and enjoying your weekends to the fullest. Even I’m doing the same and weekends are the days when I really get some leisure time at home. College kept me so much occupied that I was even unable to update my travel stories from Dehradun and Mussoorie.

So here is the part one of my little getaway to a beautiful part of Uttarakhand. I along with my brother and bestie, had planned a four day trip from Lucknow to Dehradun & Mussoorie. An evening train to Dehradun is a comfortable option so that one can reach early in the morning, relaxing and sleeping all night. We checked into our hotel at around 8AM and changed quickly to get down for breakfast.

Dehradun, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas popularly known as ‘Doon Valley’ is breathtakingly beautiful. Hopping in the peaceful streets in search of a junction for breakfast and tea was a delightful experience in itself. I was purely breathing freshness! We found a little restaurant cum dhaba named ‘Uss-da-Dhaba’ locally popular as Sardar Ji ka dhaba. And the food was beyond my expectations…taste, hygiene, quality, quantity everything was to die for.

Post lunch we had a plan to go out to see Robber’s Cave, FRI & Tapkeshwar temple. After a nap and relaxing session we headed to Robber’s Cave which is also known as ‘Gucchupani’. I was recommended by some friends to visit this place…and it was really worth visiting. I felt like being on a little trek. Gucchupani is a naturally formed cave like structure made out of lime rocks with river water flowing underneath. It’s a 600-meter long cave in which a shallow stream of water keeps flowing between the two-sided rock walls. I stepped into the stream for my exciting trek and felt the clear, calm and cold water kissing my feet. It was purely a divine feeling which can’t be expressed in words.

We walked in sparkling clear stream of water, till the end of the cave and it was an unforgettable experience. A lush green natural backdrop, big lime rocks, a long open cave and a clear, calm stream of cold water. Every single bit of this place carries an authentic natural vibe, nothing artificial! I was already in love with this place 🙂

Our next head to spot was ‘Forest Research Institute’ commonly known as FRI. FRI Dehradun is the oldest research institute of India in the department of forestry, acclaimed all over the world. It was founded in the year 1878 as British Imperial Forest Institute and later on was declared as a deemed university by UGC. A life-size sprawling green campus and extraordinarily peaceful atmosphere depict the splendid history of this place. The campus has got an abundance of trees of almost all kind. The gigantic main structure built in a Greco-Roman style of architecture is really admirable. Huge white pillars and remarkable red bricks are everything about the beauty of the main building. Aura of this place though being equipped with a modern infrastructure is ironically vintage and carries an essence of its past. The vibes were so positive, strong and different that made me feel like I have traveled through space & time and got an opportunity to sneak into the history of this beautiful place.

I was so in love with this place that I requested my brother and Neharica to stay there for some more time. We sat silently, pondering into nothingness for a stretch of three hours. I don’t know why this place made me feel so happy from inside.

We returned to our hotel after strolling in the never ending lawn of FRI, taking a lot of pictures and, talking to the locals and watchmen of the place. The conversation with an old watchman of the institute was the best part of the day. 🙂

Again the dinner was at our favorite ‘Sardar Ji ka Dhaba’. While walking back to my room and chit chatting with my bestie, I realized that all we need to take a break and spend some time with our own self. Running away from problems is no solution. This day has filled me with enough energy to start everything all over again from a scratch.

I’m also uploading twenty-something pictures which will perfectly tell you my story of Himalayan Morning! Hope you enjoyed reading. 🙂 Part-2 of the getaway will be soon up on my blog! Until next time! Love, Shivani

blurry opening!these two!walkway into the cave.A tunnel-like opening in the cave.can’t be happy enough 🙂Obsessed!the girl squad at cave!my main squad!selfie and little brother 😛okay! so you want me to pose?brother on a stroll!this peaceful corridor of the main block!and this is the place where Student of the Year – the movie was shot!colorful lawns FRIThe iconic main building of FRI!happy..!!that cycle boy!I’m on a roll!Posers!strolling in the life size big and peaceful ground of FRI..!click click!

After reading this lovely post and going through d awesome clicks you posted…i think even i should visit d place again!! Or may be i too could manage an escape with some lovely people(like you guys)….u all really are looking adorable enjoying together!!! Keep smiling and exploring d beautiful world around!! Xoxo